One of the biggest causes of failure in the hot dog biz is not charging enough at your hot dog cart.
And the biggest reason for not charging enough is fear. Let’s face it, most newbie slingers are scared to death to charge a fair price for their meals.
Their self talk goes something like this…
“What if I put all this effort into starting a hot dog biz and then I don’t sell enough hot dogs? I know! I’ll set my prices so low that it will be a no brainer. People will be sure to buy from me if the price is low enough.”
The big, giant, hairy problem with this logic is that when you compete on price, you have no room for profit. Remember – our goal is not simply to sell as many hot dogs as we can. Our goal is to make as much profit as we can.
It reminds me of an old joke: Did you hear the one about the salesman who priced his goods at ten cents below cost? He planned to make it up in volume.
It’s only funny if you are telling the joke, not living it.
You can’t physically do enough sales volume to make up for crappy profit margins. You’re not McDonalds. Be glad of that by the way.
You need to be more like Ruth Chris Steakhouse. A 16 oz Ribeye is $42. No sides or drink, that’s just the meat.
You need to figure out how to sell the very best, most unique hot dog experience in town.
And charge for it, darn it!
Just so you don’t misunderstand me, I’m not talking about taking advantage of people.
I’m talking about charging a premium price that customers will be happy to pay because they love visiting your cart and eating your mouth watering addiction dogs as much as they love their own family members.
Maybe even more.
Charging premium prices ensures that you will make enough money to stay in business for years to come.
It also guarantees your customers that they will continue to be able to get the best damn hot dog in the world whenever they want it.
-Steve
P.S. Need a confidence booster? Check out these fast food meal prices:
NOTE: Any slinger worth his tongs knows that they can charge more than any fast food chain because we don’t sell a hot dog. We sell an experience! I’m listing these fast food prices just to show you how much folks will pay for low quality food and no experience at all (other than being herded like cattle).
When was the last time you heard someone say, “I ate at McDonalds today. Wow – the food was wonderful and I had so much fun there!”
You can do way better my friend! Trust me.
Here is what folks are currently paying for bad food…
Panera Grilled Cheese $6.59 with chips, no drink
Arby’s Roast Beef (medium) $6.69 combo meal
McDonalds Quarter Pounder w/Cheese $4.79 sandwich only
Sonic (sort of) Chicago Dog $5.19 combo meal
Sonic Single Cheeseburger $5.99 Combo
Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger $6.89 combo
Burger King Whopper $6.49 combo
What do you think, slinger? Tell me in the comments below…
I agree Steve, for a # 10 dog with regular condiments I get 2.00, for chili and cheese dog I get 3.00. For my quarter pound dog with bacon jam and special mustard sauce I get 6.00. No one bats an eye.
Bacon jam and mustard sauce. Wow that sounds good! Now THAT is what I’m talking about when I say, “Don’t sell a hot dog. Sell an experience!”
Do you think Tony’s customers go back to the office or factory after lunch and tell everyone about the guy who sells hot dogs with bacon jam and mustard sauce? You bet they do.
You rock Tony!
I sell my hot dogs at $4.00, bacon wraps at $5.00, hot links at $5.00, brats at $ 4.00,
Wild game sausages: they start at $6.00 – $10.00 a Sausage… By the way my hot dogs are not big. 6″ 6-1 , bacon wraps 6″ 8-1.. Going on my 3third year in business…
Good for you Carlos! Send me pics of your E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart.
So what is a fair price, in your opinion? I charge $2.75 for a naked dog, $3.25 for a chili dog, and have any 2 dogs, chips and drink special for $7.00. I still get people bitching occasionally about my prices, but when I ask them what’s a fair price, they tell me a hot dog should cost a dollar. So I consider the source 🙂
If they bitch, you don’t want them. You don’t have to cater to everyone. Just the ones who love what you do. A fair price is one that both you and the customer are happy with.
I think a lot of it is location dependent. Here in the SF Bay Area, things are so expensive that customers just expect high prices. My wife and I just came back from our favorite local BBQ place (I’m currently negotiating with the owner to sell his delicious smoked hot links), and we pretty much routinely spend $35 a person for some meat, potato salad, and a 22oz beer.
If sit-downs can charge that much, I feel perfectly comfortable charging $5 for a “regular” dog, and $7 for a “premium” dog (chicken tikka masala dog wrapped in naan, anyone? 😉 ) But if I weren’t in such a high-cost location, I’d probably feel pressure to drop the pricing a bit.
Right on Matt.
Great topic steve and I charge $3 for a hotdog. When I first started 3 years ago I used to under charge, but now I understand that my food is really good compared to most fast food or sit down resteraunt. My cheese steak is up to $7. I did have to learn to have a special so I have been selling 2 dogs and a drink for $5 and people love it. Sometimes my special takes away from the other items that I am trying to sell but people do not walk away nearly as much when they look at my menu cause when In doubt go with a $5 lunch. Please tell me if my special is to cheap. Normally my hotdogs are $3 so they get a free drink and save another dollar with the special. I still make a couple dollars profit from each special. I also started buying a 8-1 dog cause I was giving everyone the 6-1 dog with special and that was to generous so now I give them smaller dogs with special. When peaple only buy 1 hotdog I charge $3 and give them the 6-1 dog. All in all I am sure I will sell a lot more smaller hotdogs since everyone wants 2 for 5 with drink but people are a lot less undecided with a special.
Good job Dave!
If you do adjust prices, is it wise to do it in mid season when you have so many repeat customers hooked on your current prices?
They’re not hooked on your prices. They’re hooked on your hot dogs and the experience of eating at a super fun cart.
I don’t think there is a bad time to raise prices. As long as you provide enough value, folks will happily pay for it. If they don’t perceive that the value is enough to warrant the price, you will lose them.
Keep in mind, you don’t want cheap customers. And good customers don’t want cheap food.
I always listen to your advise Steve!
Here’s where my immediate competition is on pricing in downtown Roanoke;
Roanoke Weenie Stand $1.75
good ol pork, chicken, whatever type of generic hotdog
Texas Tavern $1.40 (same as above)
Both locations are 100yo historical establishments!
My cart prices (der Frankfurter Cart)
Oscar Meyer all-beef. $2
Nathan’s all-beef $2.50
Polish sausage $3 (which costs less than my OM)
The difference – ME!
You should look at a few of the comments on my FB page.
I have 9 condiments to choose from, I use Vidallia sweet onions (opposed to cheap ol yellow onions), I don’t water down the chili (they do), and I make the hotdogs the way I like them – messy (I offer a plastic fork with every purchase with cole slaw, relish, and sauerkraut – licking the tin foil is a personal option if the customer wants – lol)
I’m going UP in price in September, but know my customers will still stop by, because I sell great frankfurters, not just a weenie on a bun!
Go for it. The competition is only competition if you don’t do anything different than them.
Your thinking is right on Mike!
It seems to me it comes back to same formula more foot traffic, more hot dog profits Part of biggest challenge in this town which ranks as a very poor town is where to sell to have constant foot traffic, not overcharge for my hot dogs,or surely not undercharge like you said Steve I really like the all beef hot dog that Sams sells of course, very tasty hot dog for the money,but again how do I set the price in a poor town where not scaring people away by the price, yet making a profit myself doing whatr I am so good at doing,selling hot dogs! Any suggestions on the best combo special,like chips and pop, plus the two dollar hot dog? I could go to Eckrich, often 10 for ten dollars in price, but would rather use an all beef hot dog Any hot dog helpers out there? Gary that hot dog man,with the hot dog plan!
Dead wrong. More foot traffic does not automatically equal more profits. If your margins are not right it only means more work.
And don’t give me the poor town example. Everyone somehow finds a way to afford the things that they really, really want. Even folks in the lowest income brackets have cable TV, a car, beer for Saturday night, smokes if they smoke. They throw a steak on the grill sometimes. They go to the movies, the zoo, the local pool.
Your job is to make eating at your cart as attractive to them as those other things.
I totally agree. On our cart, our 100% all beef, 8/1 dogs are priced at $3.00 and includes choice of cheese and/or chili or kraut. Firstly, they are a premium dog, secondly it makes change so much easier when you charge even dollar amount. Especially important at special events or festivals. When we first started we charge $2.00 a dog plus $.25 for cheese and $.25 for chili or $2.50 if they wanted chili and cheese. When we raised the price to $3.00 got almost NO push back and because they could get chili and/or cheese sounded like they were getting a bargin. We discovered that about 1/3 wanted either chili or cheese, about 1/3 wanted both cheese and chili and about 1/3 wanted neither. The only time we had anyone say anything was when we were at Harbor Freight (not exactly known for their upscale clientele) and those few would have thought tht $2.00 was TOO much. At events and festivals we were constantly running out of quarters so we raised the price of soft drinks and chips to $2.00 each; but still left our combo meals at $5.00! Eventually, we priced our non-event prices for chips and soft drinks to $1.75 (used to be $1.50). Used a lot less quarters and encouraged the combo meal (perceived value).
The only time we had trouble was when we had to have someone else cover for us. The people we contacted used the exact same product we did. Their normal price was $1.75 for a hot dog with additional for chili, cheese or kraut. I told them that the venue they were covering for us, we got $3.00 per dog including the toppings. They refused to raise their prices to match ours; thus not only did they undercut us and lost themselves money, but went to the promoter/owners and tried to get our gig away from us because their dog was cheaper. In my book that is a big No-No. I got so many calls this spring, I could have sent a number of booking their way, but not after they were so underhanded last year. In fact, I recommended one of the guys in our area that charges more than we do. Know I’ve gotten off the subject, but it also leads me to another point — Permenant menus! Not only did I vary the items we had on the cart, but priced them to the venue we were at. I’ve done hot dogs at kid’s schools for $2.00 each (mustard, relish and ketchup only) up to $4.00 or more for fancy dogs (feta cheese, bacon, etc) if the venue will support it. Thanks Steve.
Don’t try to pull a fast one on your competition. It will always catch up with you as it did for the folks that you let fill in for you.
I go even further and never even say one thing bad about my competition. That’s the low road, it makes you look bad, and the only customers who like that sort of thing are the ones you probably don’t want anyways. Way to keep it above board Dorothy!
People are also willing to pay…
$4.99 for 2 corn dogs w/ small fry and a drink @ Wienerschnitzel
$3.69 for a hot dog @ Five Guys (Their grilled cheese is $3.59)
$4.00 for a hot dog in a movie theater.
$4.75 for a hot dog in a ball park.
$6.00 for a corn dog @ Disneyland.
All you get for the money you pay at these places is your food and hopefully a smile. Although you’re getting an experience at the theater, stadium and amusement park, you’ve already paid for that at the entrance.
So, if you’re selling a premium quality dog with an experience, set your prices accordingly. Be competitive, but don’t give you’re business away.
Right on Dale.
U sound like my wife! LOL! I guess I should start llistening to her!
Uh oh. LOL!
I am in Seattle and sell 4 Oz dogs, links, and Brats for 5.00. Gourmet dogs like Seattle dogs go out at 6.00. These are Cloverdale dogs. Sodas are 1.50 as are chips. I get some whining but very little. People will always pay for quality
Way to go Scott!
Hi Steve: I read your article titles Scared To Charge A Decent Price For Your Hot Dog…..I am working a Sam’s Club and had to reduce my price by $1.00. I normally charge $3.00 for my Hebrew National Dogs (8/1) but at Sam’s Club I sell them for $2.00. I am tring to compete with the Nathan’s 4/1 with a drink for $1.50. My cost is .54 per dog and I sell 250 to 300 on a Friday 300 to 350 on a Saturday. My dogs are with the trimmings….chili cheese, slaw, kraut. My menu also included nacho’s for $3.00, chips $1.00 and soda and water for $1.00. Am I doing the right thing?
Thanks
Tammy
If you are making enough money to be happy then you are doing the right thing.
I know right? I have had people say how expensive my dogs were! I sell premium dogs. I also have had people make the comment, that’s it? Very frustrating.
Dont’ try to be all things to all people. There are some folks who will only eat the nasty gas station hot dogs because they are cheap. That’s not the customer you want.
I was selling an 8 x 1 all beef hotdog for $ 3.00. Combo chips , drink, and dog $ 4.00.
4 x 1 all beef hotdog, polish sausage and bratt for $ 4.00. Combo chips, drink and dog for $ 5.00. This was back in 2013.
I had a great product. Customers felt I was a little high and eventually stop coming. I would love to get back out and start again but I have to work on a better marketing plan. Customers loved the product.
It wasn’t your pricing I guarantee it. Get back out there and really wow them with something different. Make it enormously fun to come to your cart.
Guy’s be honest, do I sell my hot dog underpriced…… I sell Nathan’s at$ 2.00 and my sabretts at$ 2.75 …. I lived in florida….. ??? I’m a new slinger too and I’m not sure if my prices are good ?? Any advice
You can’t get more unless you are different than the others who charge $2.00. Differentiate yourself to be above all the others. People love to go to the place that they think is the best. That should be you.
Dear Steve,
The first food business that I had was in 1963, I was 16 years old. It was a pizza kitchen behind a tavern. We sold pizza and “grilled cheese sandwiches (real salty)” when we first opened. About a month into the business some one asked for hot dogs. So we went out and bought 5lbs of Vienna hot dogs, several packages of buns and condiments.
McDonalds at that time was getting $0.15 a burger, fries were extra and there was nothing special about it.
We decided to serve our grilled cheese and hot dogs with fries placed in the same wrapper with the hot dog and grilled cheese. 5lbs of potatoes were under $1.00.
So we loaded each sale up with more fries than you got from McDonalds and the folks went wild over them. We sold more hotdogs and grilled cheese sandwiches than pizza. The fries made the difference and the potatoes were and still are so cheap you can not hurt yourself by just putting them in with each order.
No we did not charge $0.15 a dog, we got a whopping $1.99 for one hot dog with fries and Saturday we had a special deal two hot dogs with fries for $2.99.
I know it does not sound like much money but remember it was 1963 dollars.
Yes we did profit and still are!
Restaurants only disappear when the food is bad!!!! Not the price!
If your product is good price it right.
Good luck to all!
Clifford
“Restaurants only disappear when the food is bad!!!! Not the price!” I love it.
Great story Clifford. Thanks for sharing it!
We charge 2.00 for a plain dog. For a kraut dog, or a chili dog it’s 2.50. Our dogs are (8/1)100% beef from Gorden Food Store. We get lots of excellent feedback from our hot dogs.
BTW… We’re here in Michigan,the Coney Island capital of the world. Where Coney Islands restaurant offer .99 coneys on almost any day of the week, but our dogs are 1000% better any day.
I love your confidence in your product! I’m sure that gets translated to the customer at your cart which is an important part of the pricing equation.
Never apologize for your pricing, and always talk up your food. Every customer needs to hear that they are getting the best!
I am in Florida as well, I charge
10×1 Sabrett $3
Jumbo 6×1 Sabrett $5
GFS Italian Sausage $6
GFS Polish Sausage $6
GFS Brat $6
I feel i am over charging but have ZERO complaints…. oh, and i charge extra $2 for chili, $1 for slaw, and $1 for chips, $2 water… no combos. Thank you Steve, this is a great article as always. You definitely helped immensely! !
You’re not overcharging if the customer is happy. In fact, that is the very definition of fair pricing – an agreed upon price that is acceptable to both buyer and seller.
What’s not fair is going out of business and depriving your customers of the hot dogs that they love so much.
You’re doing it right Christopher.
Wanted to jump in on one more thing I saw here (and something you discourage sometime) quarter price points! 25 cents, 50 cents,75 cents;
I love these price ponts, because they lead to increased tips! $3.25 = 75cents tip; $4.50 = 50cents; etc…
When I ran civic facilities, and non-profits ran my concessions, I always ALWAYS used the qtr price points, because it increased tips! In a silent way, yea, I’m manipulating a few dollars, but we are all here for money and profits. I start the day with $5 in quarters, and never have less than hat at the be of the day. I have s real items with qtr price points, and I hear often “just give me a buck back”. Just saying – I know it’s old school, but it works for me
Your point is well taken Mike. As long as you stick to quarter price points the change is still pretty simple. Glad it works for you!
I used to sell a regular dog {MORK} on a regular bun for $2.00 a chili dog for $2.50 a chicago dog on a poppy seed bun dragged thru the garden for $3.00 , until people would ask for some tomatoes or pickles or peppers on their regular dog. thats when I raised all dogs to $3.00. some get it naked, chili only, mustard and kraut, or chicago style. Dont be afraid of raising your prices. Theres a McDonalds in the strip mall I sell dogs in and I have no problems competing with them. I make a joke that they tried hot dogs but couldnt compete against me, and its just a matter of time before I close them down.
LOL, that’s a great line Jeff!
I Don’t deal with cents or customers that want to pay less than what I have on my menu, I send them to Wendy’s one dollar menu… I don’t have lunch specials, but I some times buy a hot dog to my regular customers.. my regular customers spends and average of $7.00 to 10.00 that’s good sales. and I never change my hot dog size. I work four days a week.. Thursdays through Sunday.. and I make very good money and a lot of repeat customers… But I don’t deal with $1.00 customers… I just tell them to go some where else.
Today I had jalapeno Stuffed elk double wrapped with Bacon $8.00 each., Alligator pork Andouille Sausage $ 7.00 each. Venison Sausage $7.00 each. No complains. If a customer wants your product and is an excellent product, they will pay and come back a again and again.. I never want the customer that only has a dollar on his pocket. I never leave my house if I don’t have money!!!! I stay at home until I have money to go out. One dollar customers are never going to let you make real money.
Your menu is awesome and unique. Alligator Pork Andouille Sausage. Wow!
Hey Steve,
CJ’s does have some unique items. The ones I have tried are really good.
We both work the downtown Reno area and have E-Z build carts.
He has a griddle instead of a steam table which opens up more possibilities,
like bacon wrapped hot dogs.
See you soon Carlos!
Cool!
I always remember what an old timer told me……good food ain’t cheap and cheap food ain’t good
Yep.
The best response to those who complain about price, saying they can buy a dog at the 24/7 convenience store for a buck, “I’m happy they know what their food is worth!”
Nice!
One for 3.00 or 2 for 5. Good way to get the extra couple dollars out of people. If you got a chilly dog or whatever for 6.00. Than two for 10.00 as its only 4 bucks more. Drink for 2.00 and chips 2.00 for a buck. Make it a meal for 3.00 more. Also have 5 toppings to offer and do 3 toppings of choice for 2.00. Like onions, peppers, and so on.
If that is working for you then keep it up!
You can also provide the toppings t ok the second hot dog at no extra charge when taking the special and make the 3 toppings for 2.00 extra seem even more worth it.
Someone said $6 earlier for a 6-1 hotdog that sounds like double the going rate. That maybe would work in a tourist area but that would be over charging in my opinion unless it is late at night I guess.
There is no such thing as over charging. No one is holding a gun to the customers head. If they think it is worth it, they will buy it. If not, they won’t.
My first year I had a special 2 dogs, chips and drink for $5. The next yr. my cost for dogs increased so I dropped the chips and kept the same prices, only one complaint.
This yr dog cost are up again so everything is ala carte, dogs are $3 with choice of grilled or raw onions, kraut, jalapenos, relish etc. I worried about this pricing all for naught because no complaints in fact many people say “best hot or brat I’ve ever had.”
The worrying is almost always for nothing. We think up the worst things that could happen but they never happen. Don’t worry – be profitable!
This has been a real good eye opener for me, i’m in my second year of slingging, and I’m seasonal due to our harsh winters, but, I sell the Nathans 1/4 lb. and everyone loves it, I struggle more with the darn buns than I do price point. But, I do feel I could raise the price of my Dawgs and maybe sell the chips for .50. I am currently charging $4.00 per dog with any topping, and I say it comes with a chip. (Free) they are the smaller bag, and they only cost me .13 cents ea. But, I get that it adds up over time. Maybe I should go to a $4.50 Dawg and ask .50 cents for the chip. Not everyone takes the chip, and some people ask me how much for the Dawg if I don’t want a chip. I tell them the chip is free. So no price change. What do you think?
I have used the free chip angle myself and I like it.
I’m selling Chicago Style Dogs for $3.50 and Italian Beef Sandwich for $6.25. I get some people complaining when they ask for just KETCHUP (as I cringe…LOL) but I’m selling Nathans since I can’t get Vienna. I want people in the town to experience the Chicago Style. I live in a small town 60miles north of Columbus, Ohio. Should I offer just a plain jane Dog?
Sell what sells. The only way to know is to try it.
So true. Some customers think you work for nothing. I just had sticker shock myself.
I was on my way back from Montreal Canada 2 days ago and I stopped into a roadside
service area on Interstate 87 that had a Nathan Hot dog concession in the building. I wanted a chilling cheese dog until I saw it was 10.95 for a regular size dog. I think that
is a little steep. Didn’t find any carts vendors in Montreal but the Mall had some interesting hot dog concessions at fair prices.
Wow. I wonder how many they sell at that price.
Well, this year I raised my prices, my sales are up 13.68% for the same period last year, as of 30 June 2015. I raised my prices and I have not had anyone say much about the increase but if they do, I say that I had no choice, everything is going up, now I get $2.25 for a 8/1 All Beef Dog, $4.50 for a 4/1 All Beef Dog and 4.50 for a 4/1 Sausage Dog, Combos are $4.50 and $5.50. Some may say that is cheap but for my area that is about correct. These are my street prices but if I do a catering the price is higher $7.00 per meal. Always remember this may be fun but we are out there making money…Good!! Good!!
Side note: My Hot Dog Combo is $4.50, you get the dog which is $2.25, Chip $1.25, Drink 12 oz, $1.25 which is $4.75 but you save by getting the Combo, Same thing with the Big Dog, $4.50 for the Dog, $1.25 Chip, and $1.25 for the drink which is $7.00 or you can get the Combo for $5.50 or you can get a Sausage Dog for the same price, selling combos makes me more profit…oh and I don’t do Slaw or Chili…Good!! Good!!
There are 2 reasons you sell a large number of hot dogs. The first is that you are less expensive than everyone else. The other is you have a good, clean product. Being cheap won’t last. They will leave you as soon as someone else comes along. If you have a good clean product price rarely matters..as long as you use sound business formulas…Happy Jack’s Hot Dogs…home of the world famous “Hill City Hot”
Indeed. Thanks Jack!
Question how can you nake a profit if you buy all beef hot dogs and sell for 2 or three dollars the all beef hot dogs are very expensive
There is about a 70 percent gross margin on all beef hot dogs if you buy them from a distributor.
I’ve always believed in charging a fair price for an awesome dog and primo experience. I’m in a small city near Fort Knox, Kentucky and charge the following:
8/1 $3 or 2 for $5 Polish, Brat or Italian sausage $4 Jumbo Chili Cheese or Chicago Dog $5 (will be adding Andouille sausage soon)
My customers have no problem with thee prices because I only use premium products.
Way to go Papa George!
I just raised prices as I drew the same conclusions
Good for you Shawn!
Six years after building my cart and one year into weenie slinging full-time… I am finally coming to leave a comment!
I underpriced my menu when I first started out. Even worse, I had an employee back then! Ouch. The good news is that I had a job back then and was intentionally trying to make all my mistakes while I had a paycheck. It was a good plan because I made way more mistakes than I ever thought I would; but the biggest one was definitely under pricing my food!
When working my Super Weenie lunch crowd, I serve a Nathan’s 8:1 and a rotating selection of yummy sausages. My dogs are one for three dollars or two for five dollars and my sausages range from 4 to 7 dollars depending on what it is. That includes any toppings that I have, including things that could come with an upcharge like chili, coleslaw and my homemade curry mustard.
Chips and drinks are both one dollar each and I rarely ever see quarters, nickels dimes or pennies! The only “deal” I currently offer is saving a buck when you buy two and it’s working great for me.
These days, if someone starts to quibble about the price I don’t even let it go on very long. With a smile, I direct them to a place that is about a block and a half away that serves cheap, skinny, mixed meet, crappy hotdogs that are cheaper. When I do that, one of two things happens. They either get a little irritated and go away or they just shut up. A few people even apologized. Either way, I don’t take any crap about my prices anymore. I work way too hard for that nonsense!
Make it fun, be friendly and RUN A CLEAN OPERATION. If you are having a rough time in your life, put on your game face and smile through it while working. People come to us for the experience and even your best customers that you now have friendships with don’t need you to be Debbie Downer on their lunch break. Remember that a good experience is the invisible, unmentioned side dish that comes with our food and adds to it’s value.
Best wishes to everyone and thanks again to Steve for helping me get started!
-Jason / Super Weenie
I couldn’t have said it any better Jason. I’m glad we could help you start your new business and new life!
Here in Reno, Washoe County to be specific, they just raised the sales tax which is included in my prices. That gave me a good reason to raise my prices so I didn’t have to pay more sales tax out of my pocket.
Right on.
I’m 80 miles north of Tampa, FL and work at the beach most days and at festivals. I sell a Vienna 9×1 and Bakers & Chefs for $3.00, soft drinks $2.00, water and chips for $1.00. I have a combo (1 dog, 1 soda & 1 chip) for $5.00 I added sausages, Italian, Polish & Bratwurst w/peppers & onions for $7.00 (at $5 they didn’t sell, at $6 they sold slowly, at $7 I can’t keep them on the grill). I’ve had very very few complaints regarding the price and get people looking for me at festivals
“at $5 they didn’t sell, at $6 they sold slowly, at $7 I can’t keep them on the grill.”
Awesome Paul. I love how that works.
Always give more than you offer with a smile.
I love it Sunshine!
Great ideas, as I have said before my dog business is more hobby than an income. So, please bear that in mind. I charge 3.50 for a 1/4 all beef dog 2@6.00 and a combo 4.50(chips and drink) One event I do since I pay 300.00 to get in and all prices have to be in one dollar increments(and they get 10% of sales) I then price my dogs at 1 for 3.00 2 for 5.00 and 3 for 7.00. I can only sell dogs (but I am the only one selling dogs). Every year I sell more and more dogs since the families that come to this event are finding out that their kids love my dogs (and most of the time eat them plain!)plus I have the best prices around for food. I then see these families at my other events so I build up a a fan base. By, the way the prices after -10% still run at the 65-70% profit!!
“Sell em’ all”
Jerry
That’s the great thing about the hot dog business – you can treat it as a hobby and make great money, or you can treat it as a real business and make REALLY great money. Good for you Jerry!
Hi Steve remember me Maria Bernard, Is taking me a little longer to finish my cart ,Reason building it by my self. Will finish in about a week will send you pictures then. You gave me the courage and the confidence that I needed Thank you so much. Now, about prices I’m not afraid to charge good prices lick you said is a real business, hard work , good quality and best hot dogs in town. Go bless Maria
Good for you Maria! God bless you too!